Automatic smart jump start battery packs and reserve power supply systems including the same

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to automatic smart jump start battery packs (broadly, reserve power supply systems) for machinery. In exemplary embodiments, a battery pack is configured (e.g., includes a microcontroller, etc.) to automatically detect when machinery (e.g., a water pumping system, etc.) needs a jump start from the battery pack. For example, a microcontroller (e.g., broadly, a controller, etc.) within the battery pack may be configured to determine when the machinery's main battery does not have a sufficient charge to operate an electric starter motor of the machinery, e.g., when a main battery signal from a voltage sensor falls below a predetermined level, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 monitoring, via a controller within a jump start battery pack, a voltage of a main battery to detect a large negative change in voltage over a short time that is indicative of a beginning of a starting/cranking event; 
 after detecting the large negative charge in voltage over the short period of time that is indicative of the starting/cranking event, monitoring, via the controller within the jump start battery pack, the voltage of the main battery to detect a large positive change in voltage over a short time that is indicative of the end of the starting/cranking event; 
 after detecting the large positive change in voltage over the short time that is indicative of the end of the starting/cranking event, comparing, via the controller within the jump start battery pack, the ending voltage with the original voltage; 
 if the ending voltage is within a first predetermined amount or lower than the original voltage, declaring a failed cranking attempt; 
 if the ending voltage is within a second predetermined amount of the original voltage, declaring a successful cranking attempt; 
 if a successful cranking attempt is detected, determining, via the controller within the jump start battery pack, if the jump start battery pack needs charging and thereafter charging the jump start battery back if needed; and 
 if a failed cranking attempt is detected, electrically connecting, via the controller within the jump start battery pack, a high-current output of the jump start battery pack in parallel with the main battery and waiting for another cranking attempt. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes timing out the jump start battery pack and disconnecting the high current-output of the jump start battery pack if another cranking attempt is not made within a time period. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is repeated for subsequent cranking attempts until either: (1) a Timeout Occurs; (2) a Successful Cranking Attempt is Detected; or (3) the Jump Start Battery is Depleted. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a microcontroller. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the main battery comprises a main battery of a water pump system. 
     
     
       6. A jump start battery pack configured to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       7. An automatic smart jump start battery pack configured to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       8. A jump start battery pack including a controller configured to be operable for:
 monitoring a voltage of a main battery to detect a large negative change in voltage over a short time that is indicative of a beginning of a starting/cranking event; 
 after detecting the large negative charge in voltage over the short period of time that is indicative of the starting/cranking event, monitoring the voltage of the main battery to detect a large positive change in voltage over a short time that is indicative of the end of the starting/cranking event; 
 after detecting the large positive change in voltage over the short time that is indicative of the end of the starting/cranking event, comparing the ending voltage with the original voltage; 
 if the ending voltage is within a first predetermined amount or lower than the original voltage, declaring a failed cranking attempt; 
 if the ending voltage is within a second predetermined amount of the original voltage, declaring a successful cranking attempt; 
 if a successful cranking attempt is detected, determining if the jump start battery pack needs charging and thereafter charging the jump start battery back if needed; and 
 if a failed cranking attempt is detected, electrically connecting a high-current output of the jump start battery pack in parallel with the main battery and waiting for another cranking attempt. 
 
     
     
       9. The jump start battery pack of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to be operable for timing out the jump start battery pack and disconnecting the high current-output of the jump start battery pack if another cranking attempt is not made within a time period. 
     
     
       10. The jump start battery pack of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to be operable for performing repeatedly for subsequent cranking attempts until either: (1) a Timeout Occurs; (2) a Successful Cranking Attempt is Detected; or (3) the Jump Start Battery is Depleted. 
     
     
       11. The jump start battery pack of  claim 8 , wherein the controller comprises a microcontroller. 
     
     
       12. The jump start battery pack of  claim 8 , wherein the main battery comprises a main battery of a water pump system. 
     
     
       13. The jump start battery pack of  claim 8 , wherein the jump start battery pack is an automatic smart jump start battery pack. 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage media including executable instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause a controller of a jump start battery pack to be operable for:
 monitoring a voltage of a main battery to detect a large negative change in voltage over a short time that is indicative of a beginning of a starting/cranking event; 
 after detecting the large negative charge in voltage over the short period of time that is indicative of the starting/cranking event, monitoring the voltage of the main battery to detect a large positive change in voltage over a short time that is indicative of the end of the starting/cranking event; 
 after detecting the large positive change in voltage over the short time that is indicative of the end of the starting/cranking event, comparing the ending voltage with the original voltage; 
 if the ending voltage is within a first predetermined amount or lower than the original voltage, declaring a failed cranking attempt; 
 if the ending voltage is within a second predetermined amount of the original voltage, declaring a successful cranking attempt; 
 if a successful cranking attempt is detected, determining if the jump start battery pack needs charging and thereafter charging the jump start battery back if needed; and 
 if a failed cranking attempt is detected, electrically connecting a high-current output of the jump start battery pack in parallel with the main battery and waiting for another cranking attempt. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the executable instructions include executable instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller to be operable for timing out the jump start battery pack and disconnecting the high current-output of the jump start battery pack if another cranking attempt is not made within a time period. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the executable instructions include executable instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller to be operable for performing repeatedly for subsequent cranking attempts until either: (1) a Timeout Occurs; (2) a Successful Cranking Attempt is Detected; or (3) the Jump Start Battery is Depleted. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the main battery comprises a main battery of a water pump system. 
     
     
       18. A microcontroller within a jump start battery pack comprising the non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 . 
     
     
       19. An automatic smart jump start battery pack comprising the non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 .